Shaker Textile
c. 1936
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 27.4 x 23.2 cm (10 13/16 x 9 1/8 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.16432
Art Historical Context
Behold the delicate *Shaker Textile*, a watercolor and graphite rendering on paper by Helen E. Gilman, around 1936. Measuring just 27.4 x 23.2 cm, this work captures the essence ofaker craftsmanship—a religious community famed for their minimalist, utilitarian designs that embodied spiritual purity and perfection in everyday objects. Shaker textiles, often woven with precise patterns and vibrant yet restrained colors, reflect their ethos of simplicity and functionality, produced in communal workshops during the 19th century. Gilman's piece is part of the *Index of American Design*, a monument...